The third trailer for Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight Rises' was released May 1, featuring new footage, ominous lines of dialogue and chilling imagery.

The highly anticipated epic conclusion to the Batman trilogy features Oscar winner Christian Bale ( The Fighter) returning as Bruce Wayne to take on the evil Bane, played by Tom Hardy ( Inception).

The film costars Gary Oldman ( Harry Potter, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Commissioner Gordon, Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard ( Inception), and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman.

Bridges explode, Wayne is tortured, Alfred refuses to bury him, Catwoman warns of a "storm coming," the masked Bane sounds like Darth Vader, and the Batmobile hovers and flies as Batman vows to finish his job.

The Dark Knight Rises debuts in theatres July 18 to 20 in North America and Europe, hitting theatres worldwide July 25 to 27.

The previous film, The Dark Knight, ended off with Batman fleeing Gotham's cops after taking the fall for murders committed by Harvey Dent aka Two-Face, in order to protect Dent's reputation as Gotham's 'White Knight'.

Contrary to rumours, the Joker, made infamous by the late Heath Ledger's portrayal, will not feature in the film. Nolan told Heat Vision: "Ledger’s performance as the Joker should be contained to the 2008 film," with Nolan’s producing partner and wife Emma Thomas saying: “I heard that rumor, We’re not doing that”.

Watch the trailer here: